I don't think I've posted since getting back to school. So here are some brief updates...

My schedule is wonky so I have some very free, open days and some very packed days. I suppose it's kind of nice, because it gives an illusory semblance of free time. I always say I'll fill this time with exercise, excursions to the city, productivity, and errands. But naturally, I end up sleeping longer and spending more time making food (not necessarily a bad thing, though...). Like, I spent my morning making this extravagant steel-cut oatmeal bowl. It took me about an hour to make, arrange and eat. But it was SOOOO good. It was like a healthy peanut butter cup....? I've recently become obsessed with chocolate protein powder because it makes everything taste better and is supposedly good for you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Go out and get some, dudes!! Except don't get the one with chia seeds. Those things ruin just about everything and they're super hard to clean. Like when they hit water, they gel up and then stick to all sponges :|

The winter in Boston has been relatively mild. I actually got wind burn on my face for the first time ever on Saturday, which I spent in the city, and I had to layer up two jackets because I was ill-equipped. But other than that, it's been quite nice. I've been dying to run outside but I still can't even run on the treadmill yet.

I've been trying to explore the city more. A few weekends ago I went to the east side of Cambridge to find a cafe called Loyal Nine. I had heard a bit about it and knew I needed to try it. I didn't know where it was, however. Pretty far, in a place I've never explored, and SURPRISE! It's like sitting on a railroad track. I was in the cafe portion of the restaurant, daydreaming/procrastinating from my reading, when all of a sudden, this loud rumble and quaking startles me and I watch this huge train flash across the garage-like windows that make up the walls. Nobody reacted except for me, so I tried to keep my cool and sip on my super-hipster tea that I only pretended to like (not the cafe's fault; I'm just a wimp when it comes to tea). Overall the whole experience was so cool. I explored East Cambridge after Loyal Nine closed, and walked toward Kendall Square, where I naively thought I would get a spot at Tatte on 3rd street. Wrong. So I went to Clover Food Labs by MIT and it was soooo delicious. Good Sunday for me.

The last update I have for now is the Super Bowl. Obviously most people here are Pats fans, so I had to bandwagon that. Everyone who watched knew what a close game it was, and how incredible the Pats' comeback was. So naturally, when they won, celebrations erupted everywhere. I tried to go to bed at midnight but there was still screaming and running down the hallways, banging on every wall. We heard about stuff downtown so a few of my roommates and I drove downtown and had the best time. The Prudential building was lit up with "Go Pats" and cars were honking all over the city. People were running all over the streets and sidewalks screaming. It was so cool to see! We went to the Commons to see if that's where the large crowds were, but we ended up stumbling upon the largest crowd in Downtown Crossing, where everyone stood jumping and chanting Brady's name in the middle of the intersection. It blocked traffic for the longest time. After we grew tired and decided to leave, squads of motorcycle cops flocked from all parts of the city. Overall it was so fun and unifying to be with all types of people in late-night Boston. I loved running through the commons with my roommates, jumping on benches, spinning around tipped trash cans and high-fiving strangers on Boylston. It was just so cool, euphoric and spontaneous and was a helpful reminder of how blessed I am to live in this city and to have the friends that I do :')

Those are the last updates I have for you. Here's my outfit...

I was feeling a navy and gray theme because it was very cloudy. I wear these shoes almost every time I go into the city, because I walk so much. I mean, I don't totally think they're the most trendy. But sometimes you gotta make sacrifices... Same with the leggings... comfort is needed. You can't see the top but I'm wearing a striped tissue turtleneck underneath this really cool flowy, long-sleeve navy cropped blouse. This coat was new, I had actually just purchased it at Zara. They had this amazing 70% off sale, end of season I'm assuming, and so things were flying off the racks (some on to the floor, or mixed in with the jeans table haha). The scarf matched my initial outfit super well, and I actually kind of like it with the addition of this pink coat. And as for the sunglasses, well, I just loved them so much that I rule that they go with anything :)